A Shropshire Lad wrote: » A friend of mine from Malaysia is a doctor specialising in Emergency Medicine and worked in several Dublin A&E Departments. He couldnt believe the third world service here, not to mention the drink and drug problem that comes crashing through the door at the weekends.
christy c wrote: » Ok can we separate what appears to be corruption (that fella in Monaghan), and other politicians? Unless you're saying all government politicians are corrupt then I'll leave you to it. I'm still trying to understand why politicians would want to enrich important people without getting anything in return? Just cause they're sound maybe? I'll have no problem answering your questions but trying to get a clear answer to my original question first in case we get distracted.
Matt Barrett wrote: » I believe they do get something in return. I'll skip ahead, yes I would inform the police/media if I'd proof. My justification is the policies, quangos, inappropriate behavour, and sweet deals that favour private interests over the tax payer. I do not believe this is down to foolishness or incompetence, entirely. Now I hope that eases your mind and I know my views are not a revelation to you us having well covered this ground before, now where do you stand on topic Christy? I always seem to post an opinion and then spend pages justifying it to you who will give none of your own, on topic. Talk about distraction. Where are you on cutting welfare will help us over cutting need for welfare in the context of value for money for the tax payer, funding other essentials?
The Bishop Basher wrote: » We pay too much tax for NO services.. We pay for our services separately on top of our taxes.. Bins, health, travel, emergency services, street lighting etc are all paid for through taxation. Large swathes of the working population get very very little for what they pay in taxes here.
fliball123 wrote: » Totally agree 30 years ago your tax covered all our roads (toll roads on the up) , our bins, our water, our property we had bought (although the stamp was ridiculously high) .. Were is all the money going that we are paying
fliball123 wrote: » Those on the average wage and over pay far too much tax for Public sector pay Public sector pensions Old age pensions Welfare and services provided. You only have to look at the prospect of the whole of the private sector having to work now till 68 to cover the above..No sign of the public sector employees age on retiring going up. Too many self interested and self serving politicians keeping the endless gravy trains going .. health for example is a shame we pay more per capita than most and the return on investment is disgusting. Yet what can you do ..there are no viable options competing with the FF/FG cartel
fliball123 wrote: » Totally agree 30 years ago your tax covered all our roads (toll roads on the up) , our bins, our water, our property we had bought (although the stamp was ridiculously high)
Topgear on Dave wrote: » It wasn't though. The roads were crap. The bins were cheaper maybe because volume was much less and the council dug a hole, threw the stuff in and covered it over. The education system at the time was bloody awful, I had kids with what I now know are special needs in my class and they were basically ignored.
kippy wrote: » The public accounts are public documents as far as I know. That said there isn't a country in the world that are taking in or spending the same as they were 30 years ago
fliball123 wrote: » Your point being....that we just keep throwing good money after bad on antiquated out dated systems, work practices and public sector contracts...No thanks I want to see some bang for my buck
mandrake04 wrote: » National Debt is over €200billion that’s €42,000 for every man, woman and child or $90,000 per worker in the economy. I read it’s like 3rd highest per capita in the world. The interest is €10billion per year before you pay anything off the loan, plus try to run the country. It’s like people who suddenly have a huge personal loan on top of their everyday expenses which are rising such as rent, utilities bills, Petrol/Transport etc etc. They either have to increase their income or simply cut their cloth to suit, if that means living on pot noodles then that what it takes.
fliball123 wrote: » And the main reasons for the debt is public sector pay & pensions and welfare which was inflated before the bust (benchmarking) in 2007 during the downturn things like increments still going on and having the knock on effect for the ps pensions..your right do. Its been done to death or debt. The banks cost about 42 billion at this point out of that 200billion and if we sold what we own in the banks it could be significantly less.
kippy wrote: » What do you suggest the state does to bring spending and debt under control?
Matt Barrett wrote: » Some form of accountability might dissuade any 'mistaken' wastes of tax payer monies. Checks and balances obviously need improving. Also a purely accountancy driven cost assessment of buying to use as social housing, renting privately as compared to building social/affordable housing. Basically find which is a better deal for the tax payer. Be a start.
kippy wrote: » The electorate, as a whole, simply don't care from what I can see.
LeBash wrote: » By the national debt and the money still being borrowed, I'd say we aren't paying enough tax. Yeah the services suck as a whole when compared to some parts of continental Europe but I'd prefer to have them there than not to be honest. Equally we are miles ahead of most countries in the word. Mexico for example doesnt have a postal service, or at least a mate told me that over a few pints and I believed him.
Melanchthon wrote: » Ironically though for the region of mexico I saw it actually has a better coach and bus service than Ireland. Coaches in particular much nicer with the higher class ones having toilets and working air conditioning I would honestly say that I would be happy for bus eirrean to be shut down, private sector taking over longer routes as they basically have already with customers using Gobus,City link, DublinCoach and Aircoach far more for Dublin-galway Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast as busses are nicer, quicker and have toilets.Subsidise regional networks with an emphasis on reliability and time tables that work for those in employment, while back was using a bus eireann would get into work half an hour early every single day as the correct bus for my working hours would not turn up 50% of time, drivers that consistently don't turn up should be pensioned off
What do you suggest the state does to bring spending and debt under control?
Matt Barrett wrote: Some form of accountability might dissuade any 'mistaken' wastes of tax payer monies. Checks and balances obviously need improving. Also a purely accountancy driven cost assessment of buying to use as social housing, renting privately as compared to building social/affordable housing. Basically find which is a better deal for the tax payer. Be a start.
Matt Barrett wrote: » How come any privatisation plans usually mean the tax payer part funds them? Private companies won't supply routes unless there's enough money in it. If they won't and we need subsidise them, we're better off running our own. We can regulate fares and 'subsidise' the public for lower fares.We often look at something were improvement is needed as a bad idea. It's not always the case.
Matt Barrett wrote: » How come any privatisation plans usually mean the tax payer part funds them? Private companies won't supply routes unless there's enough money in it. If they won't and we need subsidise them, we're better off running our own. We can regulate fares and 'subsidise' the public for lower fares. We often look at something were improvement is needed as a bad idea. It's not always the case.
Geuze wrote: » Direct taxes on many earners are very low. On income of 48-50k my parents pay 8-10% direct tax (PAYE/USC and PRSI). In return for the 8-10%, they get: two medical cards two free travel passes free TV licence 35 pm / 420 pa off their elec bill I've said this many times before, but Ireland is very generous.
fliball123 wrote: » not true the fact is there is no one with any credibility looking to get elected they all look after their pockets first and foremost its very frustrating to look at an election and not have one credible option
kippy wrote: » If there actually were a "DEMAND" within the electorate for actual change, surely people would run to meet this demand. The demand simply isn't there from what I can see outside of a minority of people.
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